Data from: Regulation of transposable elements: interplay between TE-encoded regulatory sequences and host-specific trans-acting factors in Drosophila melanogaster

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic elements that can move around the genome, and their expression is one precondition for this mobility. Because the insertion of TEs in new genomic positions is largely deleterious, the molecular mechanisms for transcriptional suppression have been extensively studied. In contrast, very little is known about their primary transcriptional regulation. Here, we characterize the expression dynamics of TE families in Drosophila melanogaster across a broad temperature range (13–29°C). In 71% of the expressed TE families, the expression is modulated by temperature. We show that this temperature-dependent regulation is specific for TE families and strongly affected by the genetic background. We deduce that TEs carry family-specific regulatory sequences, which are targeted by host-specific trans-acting factors, such as transcription factors. Consistent with the widespread dominant inheritance of gene expression, we also find the prevailing dominance of TE family expression. We conclude that TE family expression across a range of temperatures is regulated by an interaction between TE family-specific regulatory elements and trans-acting factors of the host.

转座子（Transposable elements, TEs）是一类可在基因组内自由移动的遗传因子，其表达是该移动性得以实现的先决条件之一。由于转座子插入新的基因组位置大多会产生有害效应，学界针对其转录抑制的分子机制已开展了广泛研究。与之形成鲜明对比的是，目前对转座子的初级转录调控机制仍所知甚少。本研究针对黑腹果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）的转座子家族，在13–29°C的宽泛温度区间内，对其表达动态进行了系统表征。在71%的已检测到表达的转座子家族中，其表达均受到温度的调控。研究证实，这类温度依赖性调控具有转座子家族特异性，且受宿主遗传背景的强烈影响。我们由此推断，转座子携带有家族特异性的调控序列，这些序列会被宿主特异性的反式作用因子（如转录因子）所靶向。与基因表达普遍存在的显性遗传模式相一致，本研究也发现转座子家族的表达普遍呈现显性效应。综上，在一系列温度条件下，转座子家族的表达是由转座子家族特异性调控元件与宿主反式作用因子之间的相互作用共同调控的。